If you have a number GHD5 278685 that is not a commision number but the
car/serial number/VIN and is the one you are looking for. That car was bult
between Jan 72 and Aug 72, according to Clausager.
PaulH.
MG Cars Webring MG Site of the Month - September '99
http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.hunt1/
(or if that URL doesn't work try )
(http://194.168.54.52/paul.hunt1)
-----Original Message-----
From: David Hill <davhill@cwcom.net>
To: Max Heim <mvheim@studiolimage.com>
Cc: MG List <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: 21 September 1999 13:49
Subject: Re: Birth Date (was Which Grille)
>Hi Max,
>
>Grateful thanks for that.
>
>I've had a quick look for the s/n and all I can find is what appears to
>be a broken-off
>tag on the left (from rear) inner wing. What remains is a 1" x 1.25"
>piece of body weight metal with a broken edge.
>There's no immediate sign of a stamped-in number on the body but I
>haven't looked very hard yet.
>
>The commission No. came from the MOT certificate and is prefixed GHD5
>making mine car no. 278685. My manuals refer to
>GHN5 and GHD5 cars.
>
>The engine was uprated to Special Tuning 'Pluspac' spec. but I think the
>engine may be original. The number is just discernible,
>it's 18V 528F 114451-the car has overdrive.
>
>I reckon I'll have to wait for the registration document. This will at
>least say when the car was first registered.
>
>Thanks again for your help,
>
>Dave Hill.
>
>
>Max Heim wrote:
>>
>> Aha! So that's the problem. The serial number plate should be on the
>> inner wing valance, forward of the radiator, on the left hand side when
>> viewed from the front of the car looking back under the bonnet. Look
>> beneath the diagonal radiator diaphragm support bracket. The serial
>> number is labelled "Car No.".
>>
>> If you see two little screw holes but no plate, well, you can always look
>> for the body number, which is not much better documented than the
>> commission number, but at least has a slightly predictable numeric
>> relationship. One position for the body number plate is supposedly on the
>> opposite inner wing valance. On my 66 roadster it is located on the
>> (driver's left hand) inner wing, just forward of the rectangular opening
>> opposite the rear carburetor. The plate is a slender strip and the number
>> is prefixed with the letters MGB (or GBUD for GTs?). The body numbers get
>> much higher than the serial numbers due to the fact they re-started the
>> series every year at a convenient, higher number (even 100,000s).
>>
>> The Moss catalog chart shows the body numbers for 72 GTs starting in May
>> 71 at GBUD/620101, ending 8/72 with the first 1973 car, GBUD/720101.
>>
>> There is a slight chance that you have a serial number stamped into the
>> body structure. Some export cars had it stamped inside the front right
>> hand side member in the engine compartment just behind the front engine
>> mount, adjacent to the starter motor. Some cars had it stamped in the
>> floor pan in front of the right hand seat. And others had it stamped in
>> the floor of the boot. US cars also had a plate in the left hand door
>> sill area, and one on top of the dash, readable through the windscreen.
>>
>> If you think the car has the original engine, the engine number would be
>> a valuable clue. 1972 model year Bs (roadster & GTs) begin with
>> 18V/584Z/L101 (non-overdrive) or 18V/585Z/L101 (with overdrive).
>>
>> One thing I'm curious about is where you got that commission number. My
>> reference suggests that for a 72 GT it should be in the format
>> G23D######Z, with a 6-digit number, not a 7-digit number (which massively
>> exceeds the total number of MGs ever made). 72 GTs theoretically began
>> with 047002.
>>
>> That about exhausts what I can contribute on the subject. Hope it
helps...
>>
>>
>
>